Safety float valve



c. FIGGE 3,191,799

SAFETY FLOAT VALVE Filed Dec. 11. 1961 June 29, 1965 INVENTOR: CARROL L G F/GGE United States Patent F 3,191,799 SAFETY FLOAT VALVE Carroll C. Figge, Batavia, Ill. Filed Dec. 11, 1%1, Ser. No. 158,366 7 Claims. (Cl. 22090) This invention relates in general to a safety float valve at the top of a liquid in a container and is more particularly described in connection with a safety paint bucket.

When this valve is installed at the top of a receptacle and particularly at the top of a bucket for containing paint and similar materials, it automatically closes the top of the receptacle except when dipping paint and also provides means for partially wiping a paint brush at the center of a can so that surplus paint will return thereto at the center of the can.

Objections to most open receptacles are: they spill the paint when the bucket swings too much or is dropped; the fumes of paint and other objectionable liquids freely escape therefrom; and in paint, for example, a film of material forms on a bucket of paint, it it is allowed to stand, which must be broken open before the paint can again be used, thus reducing the amount of paint available and causing a loss of this amount of paint at all times.

The present invention prevents splashing due to swinging or dropping the receptacle; it eliminates wiping of the brush upon the can; it prevents fumes and fires and the loss of solvent material and eliminates the loss of paint due to wiping the'brush at the edge of the receptacle.

An important object of the present invention is to pro: vide a float valve which rests upon the surface of liquid in a receptacle and prevents unauthorized removal of the liquid and contains the liquid and any dangers of fumes thereof within the receptacle;

A further object of .the invention is to provide a hinged float which may be inserted through the tops of paint and other receptacles of larger diameter and will still maintain a'closed contact with the inside of a smaller inward edge at the top;

A further object of the invention is to provide means for conveniently inserting and removing a hinged float from a receptacle without contact with the body of the material therein, and to provide a wiper for brushes and means for locking the float in upward position in a receptacle;

. A further object of the invention is to provide a divided float for a receptacle which may be open at the center by inserting a brush or some other article downwardly at the center opening the valve;

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a float valve adapted to rest upon and to unite with the top surface of liquid in a receptacle for substantially closing the liquid in the receptacle at all times; to reduce spilling 3,191,799 Patented June 259, 1965 a receptacle held upwardly against the rim by a stick passed through the handles;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the float sections;

FIG. 5 is a view of two float sections connected and angularly inclined toward each other;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the float oval receptacle; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional viewof the float and receptacle as shown in FIG. 6.

This invention may be applicable to the prevention of spilling, splashing, the loss of material and the prevention of the escape of fumes of many liquids, but it may be read ily understood as an application to an ordinary paint can. As an open paint can is moved about, it may be tilted, splashed ordropped, thereby actually losing the paint; the paint can is usually left open thereby allowing fumes to escape, and if left, in time forming a film of material which must be broken and removed; and if a brush is used, the inside edge of the can is so filled with paint that the top cannot be returned or the paint properly covered.

The present invention provides a safety float valve which rests upon the top of a paint can either open or closed, and and it open, it provides means for locking the float to the can in closed position, or closing the paint can against the formation of large objectional films therein; it -provides wiping surfaces for a brush or any other article which is inserted in the can, and the valve is always ready to be opened for the insertion of a brush into a limited amount of paint which may be additionally wiped thereon and not on the inside of the can.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a type of container 10 like a paint can is shown having an inwardly extending grooved rim 12 in which a flanged top 14 is inserted making a suitable seal for the paint or any other material which may be held in the container. The rim 12 may extend inwardly to a greater or less extent and forms an edge for wiping an ordinary brush A and thereby accumulating a paint within and substantially closing the grooves of the rim, making the receptacle ordinarily unusable for again sealing the container.

Thefloat valve proposed by the present application com prises two separate float memberslflpreferably identical in construction for any particular container, and applicable either to a round, oval or even a square container which has an inwardly projecting rim, or even a grooved rim, if it is not too wide. Each float member is practically semi-circular in construction; it is either madefof light applied to an floatatious material such as wood or a hollow metal mateeven if the receptacle is tipped over; to prevent splashing,

and to close the top for the prevention of the escape of fumes and the danger of causing fire thereby.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a float contained at the top of a closed receptacle, the bottom being omitted;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a float in a receptacle as shown in FIG. 1 with the top removed and a brush dipped in liquid at the center of the float receptacle;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a float above the liquid in rial, a light'plastic, or a plastic with holes or recesses therein which make it sufliciently light to float buoyantly on top of paint B or other material which may be in thecontainer. i l

The identical float members are preferably arranged in pairs and hooked together at the upper sides of their diameters or other edges by means of an open hook 18 at one end and a closed hook 20 at the other end, so that by reversing the members, the hook 18 of one'engages in the I, closed hook of the other to provide an offset hinge. Each float is also formed with a handle 22 which extends upturn inwardly toward each other until the outer ends of the handles preferably in the form of balls engage each other.

One object of this construction is to enable one to insert the float valve more easily in a container having a reduced rim as shown, and at the same time so that the curved edges of the float when extended will substantially fill a receptacle.

When this float valve is inserted in a container, it may engage the top 14 in a filled container as shown in. FIG. 1, in which case the float will be pressed downwardly within the liquid by the top, or if the liquid material is partially removed from the container, the handles 22 will ordinarily be positioned below the grooved rim of the can as shown in FIG. 2 or if it is desired to close the container when some of the contents are removed, the float members are raised against a rim 12 as shown in FIG. 3 in which case the upper parts of the handles 22 extend above the top of the receptacle, and in this case, a stick or bar C may be inserted through both handles engaging the top edge of the receptacle for drawing the valve up tightly against the rim and holding it permanently in this position if desired, until the receptacle is again to be used.

Thus the float valve becomes a safety device for closing the top of the receptacle and for closing on top of the liquid in the receptacle by adhering, if painted to the sides of the receptacle .and closing the central aperture between the float members by the formation of a film of paint which is less in area than a solid film of paint which would form on top of any receptacle if it is left open. In operation, each of the upwardly projecting handles 22 forms a wiper for a brush A, the center of the float may be depressed and a shallow space is formed for containing liquid at the center between float members 16 and into which the tip or lower end of a brush A is dipped for suitably filling the brush. The brush bristles may then become saturated or oversaturated and the upstanding handles 22 provide means for wiping the brush at either side of the float upon the float members themselves so that any surplus liquid will run to the center space on top of the float members and when the brush is removed for painting, the center of the float members will rise to close the valve, at the same time allowing any surplus liquid to flow to the underside of the float, thus raising or leveling the float members accordingly. If no further painting is done, the float, if applied to a paint receptacle, will have a line joining the outer peripheries of the float members in which a film may be formed sealing the receptacle.

With this construction, it will be seen that if the paint receptacle is tipped or falls or undue movement produces splashing of the liquid in the receptacle, there will be no substantial loss of the liquid or discharge therefrom, unlessit is allowed to lie for some time in overturned position. Even if immediately tilted or tipped, a reasonably prompt upending of the receptacle will restore the action of the valve and even if the receptacle is dropped from a platform or ladder, the valve will seal the receptacle against the loss of any substantial amount of the liquid within a short time. In the same manner, the closure of the receptacle by the valve will prevent the escape of noxious fumes and will tend to prevent the loss of the liquid itself due to evaporation by providing an automatic seal of this kind which goes into action as soon as it is placed within a receptacle, and automatically closes after discharge of paint and other material at the provided diametrical opening between the members.

This construction may also be applied to an oval re- 9 ceptacle 26 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, float members 28 being connected at a longitudinal center 30 thereof and having handles 32 which are parallel as before to their center connecting line, the outer curved peripheries of the float members substantially fitting the curved portions of the receptacles. By making the receptacles for paint, for example, from oval constructions, wider brushes can be more conveniently applied directly to the paint in the receptacle, so that receptacles for a smaller amount of paint may be used with larger brushes for more rapidly applying the paint (or similar liquid) to a surface and without making it necessary to purchase a large can of paint for use where only a small quantity is required.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention and a slight improvement thereto in some detail, it should be regarded as an illustration or example rather than as a limitation or restriction of the invention, since various changes in the construction, combination and arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a safety float valve, the combination with a cylindrical receptacle for liquid having an inwardly extending top rim, or a float comprising solid flotation members and hinge means connecting them to substantially embrace the entire inner area at the top of liquid in the receptacle and larger than the extent of the inside of the rim when the members are extended, the hinge means being offset at the tops of the members, the. members being thinner at the hinge means than at the edges more remote therefrom to provide a shallow space for a liquid when the members are extended and being foldable together on said hinge means to reduce the transverse dimension to less than that of the rim, and said offsethinge means separating the members at the hinge means when the members are extended to open the hinge means so that liquid will flow from below the float through the hinge means to said space at the upper side of the float.

2. In a safety float valvein accordance with claim 1, said float members being similar, the hinge means comprising cooperating open and closed hooks at opposite ends, the members being thinner near the hinge means to fold inwardly together with an angular space at the upper sides of the members near said hinge means to contain liquid flowing through the hinge means from the under side of the members when they are floating on a liquid.

3. In a safety float valve in accordance with claim 2, in which each float member has a handle on the top surface spaced from the hinge means, the float members adapted to rest on a liquid in said receptacle and said angular space adapted to contain a liquid, and each handle constituting a wiper for removing surplus liquid and returning it to said space when a brush is dipped into liquid in the space and a portion of the liquid is removed by wiping it on said handle.

4. In a safety float valve in accordance with claim 3, the receptacle being cylindrical and the float members together approximating the inner area and being foldable together until the handles engage for insertion through the top rim, the float members being extensible within the receptacle and to engage under and against the rim to seal the receptacle in this raised position.

5. A float for a paint receptacle having an opening at the top substantially of the same area as the float, the float comprising two similar members semicircular in area, offset hinge means connecting the members along their diameters and having thinner portions at their diameters with less floatation to form a shallow angular space at the diameter and the offset hinge means admitting liquid paint therethrough from below the float to fill said space, the outer edges of the float members substantially fitting the inside of a receptacle into which the float is inserted, the deposit of paint from the receptacle forming a thin film between the inside of the receptacle and the outside of the float adapted to harden and form a seal to protect paint in the receptacle and to prevent loss and contamination thereof.

6. In a float for a paint receptacle according to claim 5, the receptacle having an inwardly extending rim at the top, and the float members each having a handle at the top outwardly from said hinge means for raising and lowering the member through the top and rim of the receptacle, a bar engaging said handles and the opposite outside edgesof the top of the receptacle for drawing the members against the inside of the rim, adapted to seal 5 the receptacle by a film of paint between the float and the rim of the receptacle.

7. In a safety float valve for a cylindrical receptacle, the combination with a receptacle for liquid having an inwardly extending n'm at the top, of a hinged float to substantially cover the entire area of the top of liquid in the receptacle and larger than the inward extent of the rim, the float being foldable for insertion within the rim and extensible on the hinge to an area larger than that of the inwardly extending rim, and raisable when extended by floating on a liquid in the receptacle to engage the inside of the rim to substantially close the top opening of the receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

5. A FLOAT FOR A PAINT RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPENING AT THE TOP SUBSTANTIALLY OF THE SAME AREA AS THE FLOAT, THE FLOAT COMPRISING TWO SIMILAR MEMBERS SEMICIRCULAR IN AREA, OFFSET HINGE MEANS CONNECTING THE MEMBERS ALONG THEIR DIAMETERS AND HAVING THINNER PORTIONS AT THEIR DIAMETERS WITH LESS FLOATATION TO FORM A SHALLOW ANGULAR SPACE AT THE DIAMETER AND THE OFFSET HINGE MEANS ADMITTING LIQUID PAINT THERETHROUGH FROM BELOW THE FLOAT TO FILL SAID SPACE, THE OUTER EDGES OF THE FLOAT MEMBERS SUBSTANTIALLY FITTING THE INSIDE OF A RECEPTACLE INTO WHICH THE FLOAT IS INSERTED, THE DEPOSIT OF PAINT FROM THE RECEPTACLE FORMING A THIN FILM BETWEEN THE INSIDE OF THE RECEPTACLE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE FLOAT ADAPTED TO HARDEN AND FORM A SEAL TO PROTECT IN THE RECEPTACLE AND TO PREVENT LOSS AND CONTAMINATION THEREOF. 